We have made a slight change to Brett's deadlift

By making him pull sumo and wear gear. So, everything.

Even when he pulls raw conventional, he has a problem getting the bar locked out. I've learned that it's not a strength flaw, it's a technique flaw. He tends to straighten his legs out right away and then has to grind from a round back position. Grinding is not the problem either! Last year, he had a third pull at a meet that he grinded for 14 seconds and still didn't lock it out!

Sumo w/ briefs 325+chains x4x2. Working on a nice powerful lockout! @shanechurch #elitefts #powerlifting #metal

A video posted by Brett Burton (@brettburton91) on


We have been working on pulling in gear as this will be his first meet multiply. Briefs alone seem so far to be the winner for set up. The suit is too much for his current gear skill level.

Changing to the sumo will help us take advantage of the gear and his leverages.

Pulling against accommodating resistance will help the lock out. But, I want him to use it to maintain his posture during the whole lift.

Keeping the upper back locked in will transfer over to his raw conventional as well!

On this set, the first rep looks good, but Brett got his shoulders a little too far behind the bar. He then had to pull around his knees.

The second rep, Brett has the upper body lean forward a little bit more and can pull the bar in a nice straight bar path! Now we just need to do that in competition!!